"One night, I was awakened in my mother's bedroom, where my little bed always stood, by the sound of a man's voice. That voice was speaking to my mother with a gravity that was almost harsh, and she replied in a grief-stricken, timid, almost imploring tone. In my astonishment I thought at first that it was mamma's confessor; and as he seemed to be scolding her according to his custom, I listened with all my ears, without making a sound or letting them suspect that I wasn't asleep. They had no suspicion of me. They talked without restraint. But such an extraordinary conversation! My mother said: 'If you loved me, you would marry me,' and the man refused to marry her! Then mamma wept and so did the man; and I heard--ah! Lelio, I must be very fond of you to tell you this--I heard the sound of kisses. It seemed to me as if I knew the man's voice; but I could not believe the testimony of my ears. I longed to look; but I didn't dare to move, because I felt that I was doing a shameful thing in listening, and as I had even then some elevated sentiments, I tried not to hear. But I heard in spite of my efforts. At last the man said to my mother: '_Addio_, I leave you forever; do not refuse me a lock of your lovely hair.'--And my mother replied: 'Cut it yourself.' "The care which my mother took of my curls had accustomed me to look upon a woman's hair as something very valuable; and when I heard her give him part of hers, I had a thrill of jealousy and grief, as if she had parted with property which she ought not to sacrifice to anybody but myself. I began to weep silently; but, as I had heard steps approaching my bed, I hastily wiped my eyes and pretended to be asleep. Then some one put aside my curtains, and I saw a man all dressed in red, whom I did not recognize at first because I had never seen him in that costume. I was afraid of him; but he spoke to me, and I recognized him at once; it was--Lelio, you will forget this story, won't you?" "It was--signora?" I cried, convulsively pressing her hand. "It was Nello, our gondolier--Why, Lelio, what's the matter with you? You are shivering, your hand trembles. O heaven! you blame my mother!" "No, signora, no!" I replied in an inaudible voice; "I am listening attentively to you. This took place at Venice, did it?" "Did I tell you so?" "I think you did; and it was in the Aldini palace, of course?" "Of course, for I told you it was in my mother's bedroom. But why this agitation, Lelio?" "O my God! my God! and your name is Alezia Aldini!" "Well, what are you thinking about?" said she, testily. "One would say that you had just learned my name for the first time." "Pardon me, signora, your family name--I always heard you called Grimani, at Naples."